Senior Right of Way Agent

Explorer Pipeline; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Explorer Pipeline seeks a Senior Right of Way Agent to support the company's pipelines from its Tulsa headquarters. You will obtain regulatory approvals, acquire land use leases, and resolve land damage claims, coordinating fee properties, leased properties, and rights of way with third parties.

This role travels up to 40% for project needs and partners with engineering, legal, and landowners to negotiate easements, manage files, and help shepherd real property acquisitions through approvals and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field; 5+ years in right of way/land services.
• A law degree or MBA is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of right of way agreements, leases, licenses, and related contracts.

Responsibilities

• Complies with DOT and OSHA health, safety and environmental requirements and follows safety procedures.
• Assists in establishing proposed route(s) for pipeline projects.
• Estimates right of way costs and establishes acquisition timelines.
• Develops a landowner line list from tax roll information and prepares limited title certificates.
• Obtains permission to survey from landowners; identifies issues for proposed routes; identifies necessary permits and plats/maps needed to acquire ROW.
• Prepares and files permit applications required by affected agencies/entities.
• Negotiates rights of way easements, deeds, licenses and drafts related documents.
• Assists in condemnation files and supports real property related litigation.
• Negotiates sale of company property and administers right of way payments.
• Reviews and maintains right of way files and records.
• Documents damages and coordinates resolutions with contractors and owners.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Negotiation

Leadership

GIS software

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration or related field

Law degree or MBA preferred

Tools

Word processing

GIS software

Job description

The Senior Right of Way Agent will work out of our headquarters in Tulsa, OK and is primarily responsible for supporting all activities related to obtaining rights of way for the Company’s pipelines, by attaining regulatory approvals, acquiring leases for land use, and resolving claims related to damaged land. This position also supports the acquisition and divestiture of all fee properties, coordinating all activities associated with the use of fee properties, leased properties, and rights of way between the Company and third parties, and assists with maintaining and managing a filing system for all records associated with these activities.

*The position will travel up to 40% depending upon projects requirements.*

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following represents the majority of the duties performed by the position but is not meant to be all inclusive nor prevent other duties from being assigned when necessary.

1. Complies with DOT and OSHA health, safety and environmental requirements and follows safety philosophy and procedures developed by the Company including: applicable environmental, health and safety rules, procedures, and accepted safe work practices, the use of appropriate personal protective equipment and safety systems, and the reporting of workplace hazards and injury or illness arising from workplace activities; observes the workplace to identify conditions or behaviors that should be corrected and takes appropriate action.
2. Assists in establishing proposed route(s) for pipeline project(s), including trunk line projects, new connections, and custody delivery points.
3. Estimates right of way costs and establishes acquisition timelines.
4. Develops a landowner line list from tax roll information and internal mapping system and prepares limited title certificates from research data obtained from public land records.
5. Obtains permission to survey from landowners and tenants; identifies issues for proposed routes; identifies necessary agency/entity permits and generation of plats, maps, and data required to acquire right of way.
6. Prepares and files permit applications required by affected agencies/entities.
7. Evaluates right of way requirements, zoning restrictions, and related documents; negotiates with management and right of way owners new or renewed right of way easements, deeds, permits, and licenses and drafts related documents representing the Company's position; resolves other aspects of right of way encroachment.
8. Assists in the preparation of condemnation files and supports real property related litigation.
9. Negotiates the sale of company property and prepares documents to support the sale; negotiates and administers right of way and related rental payments.
10. Reviews and approves right of way, leases, licenses, and other real property contracts and maintains right of way files and records.
11. Documents right of way damages incurred during construction and recommends resolution of all right of way damages with contractor(s) and owners/tenants.
12. Assists with determining the appraised value of rights of way and engages in acquisition negotiations and coordinates the amount and method of payment for rights of way and other landowner related payments within Company policy guidelines.
13. Supports Engineering and Operations regarding new projects, relocations, right of way, and landowner matters.
14. Supports contractor right of way agents.
15. Assists with representing the Company before governmental agencies and at industry meetings, regarding real property, and right of way matters.
16. Provides guidance and training to other personnel on right of way, landowner, and related matters.

REQUIREMENTS

• A bachelor’s degree in business administration or related technical field and a minimum of five (5) years’ experience working with right of way/land services programs, or equivalent combination of education and experience. A law degree or master’s degree in business administration is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to actively engage in safe behavior and understand and follow the principles and methods related to pipeline and workplace safety as established by the Company.
• Knowledge of emergency and safety procedures, policies, procedures, equipment operating parameters, and all applicable DOT, EPA, FERC, DHS, and OSHA requirements.
• Ability to utilize computer hardware and word processing and GIS software to research, manage, record, and evaluate company information.
• Well-developed verbal communication skills are needed to represent the company before government agencies, industry groups, and landowners. Also required during negotiations with landowners, claimants, and other external parties.
• Well-developed written communication skills are required to draft contracts, agreements, leases, licenses, and other right of way documents to accurately represent the Company’s position.
• Strong knowledge of right of way agreements, leases, licenses, and other legal contracts.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills for highly complex issues.
• Well-developed leadership skills to advance and promote the Company’s right of way program.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills are required in representing the Company to governmental agencies and other external parties.
• Frequent internal contacts are required with the leadership team, engineering staff, area supervisors, drafters, business development, and the accounting staff to provide advice and to gather information to support the Company's position.
• Frequent external contacts are required with outside counsel in support of company litigation, landowners in negotiation of claims or right of way, professional service firms, governmental agencies, or regulatory bodies in representing the Company’s position on various issues.
• Well demonstrated ability to promote diversity through the management of daily activities and foster diversity of thought with team members.
• Ability to effectively work and cooperate with supervisors, co-workers, and vendors.
• Ability to follow corporate policies and the directions of the VP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary.
• Ability to refrain from causing or contributing to disruption in the workplace.